Analysis of light-induced transmembrane ion gradients and membrane potential in Photosystem I proteoliposomes

Modeling the light-induced electric potential difference ΔΨ across the thylakoid membrane based on the transition state rate theory

In photosynthesis, electron transport-coupled proton movement initiates the formation of the light-induced electric potential difference, ΔΨ, across the thylakoid membrane (TM). Ions are transported across the TM to counterbalance the charge of protons accumulated in the lumen. The objective of this work is to construct range of mathematical models for simulation of ΔΨ, using the transition state rate theory (TSRT) for description of movement of ions through the channels. The TSRT considers either single-ion (TSRT-SI) or multi-ion occupancy (TSRT-MI) in the channels. Movement of ions through the channel pore is described by means of energy barriers and binding sites; ions move in and out of vacant sites with rate constants that depend on the barrier heights and well depths, as well as on the interionic repulsion in TSRT-MI model. Three energy motifs are used to describe the TSRT-SI model: two-barrier one-site (2B1S), three-barrier two-site (3B2S), and four-barrier three-site (4B3S). The 3B2S energy motif is used for the TSRT-MI model. The accumulation of cations due to the TM surface negative fixed charges is also taken into account. A model employing the electro-diffusion theory instead of the TSRT is constructed for comparison. The dual wavelength transmittance signal (ΔA515-560nm) measuring the electrochromic shift (ECS) provides a proxy for experimental light-induced ΔΨ. The simulated ΔΨ traces qualitatively agree with the measured ECS traces. The models can simulate different channel conducting regimes and assess their impact on ΔΨ. The ionic flux coupling in the TSRT-MI model suggests that an increase in the internal or external K⁺ concentration may block the outward or the inward Mg²⁺ current, respectively.

Effects of Lipid Tethering in Extremophile-Inspired Membranes on H(+)/OH(-) Flux at Room Temperature

This work explores the proton/hydroxide permeability (PH+/OH-) of membranes that were made of synthetic extremophile-inspired phospholipids with systematically varied structural elements. A fluorescence-based permeability assay was optimized to determine the effects on the PH+/OH- through liposome membranes with variations in the following lipid attributes: transmembrane tethering, tether length, and the presence of isoprenoid methyl groups on one or both lipid tails. All permeability assays were performed in the presence of a low concentration of valinomycin (10 nM) to prevent buildup of a membrane potential without artificially increasing the measured PH+/OH-. Surprisingly, the presence of a transmembrane tether did not impact PH+/OH- at room temperature. Among tethered lipid monolayers, PH+/OH- increased with increasing tether length if the number of carbons in the untethered acyl tail was constant. Untethered lipids with two isoprenoid methyl tails led to lower PH+/OH- values than lipids with only one or no isoprenoid tails. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed a strong positive correlation between the probability of observing water molecules in the hydrophobic core of these lipid membranes and their proton permeability. We propose that water penetration as revealed by molecular dynamics may provide a general strategy for predicting proton permeability through various lipid membranes without the need for experimentation.

Noninvasive measurement of membrane potential modulation in microorganisms: photosynthesis in green algae

Cell membrane potential (CMP) modulation is a physical measurement to quantitatively probe cell physiology in real time at high specificity. Electrochemical field effect transistors (eFETs) made from graphene and Si nanowire provide strong mechanical and electrical coupling with neurons and muscle cells to noninvasively measure CMP at high sensitivity. To date, there are no noninvasive methods to study electrophysiology of microorganisms because of stiff cell walls and significantly smaller membrane polarizations. An eFET made from the smallest possible nanostructure, a nanoparticle, with sensitivity to a single-electron charge is developed to noninvasively measure CMP modulation in algae. The applicability of the device is demonstrated by measuring CMP modulation due to a light-induced proton gradient inside the chloroplast during photosynthesis. The ∼9 mV modulation in CMP in algae is consistent with the absorbance spectrum of chlorophyll, photosynthetic pathway, and inorganic carbon source concentration in the environment. The method can potentially become a routine method to noninvasively study electrophysiology of cells, such as microorganisms for biofuels.

Molecular photovoltaic structures for optical activation of excitable cells: current advances and perspectives

Current neural stimulation devices for the treatment of sensory and motor disorders are based on electrical stimulation. Using this technique, neural activity is triggered by electrical stimuli applied through electrodes in contact with the cells. Due to physical constraints of the electrodes the spatial control of stimulation is limited, which in some cases generates unwanted side effects. In addition, adverse tissue reactions occur after long term contact with the electrodes. A potential solution is the application of methods based on light instead of electrical energy, in which the electrical stimulator and the electrode are replaced by a light source and an optical fiber. Although optical stimulation approaches that allow spatially selective, highly specific and contact-free control of the neural activity have been developed in recent years, their implementation requires genetic manipulation, limiting the perspectives for clinical applications. A molecular photovoltaic structure potentially able to mediate light-induced cellular responses without involving genetic modification is the photosynthetic pigment-protein complex Photosystem I (PSI). In this work, the recent advances on the application of PSI reaction centers for optical control of cellular activity are presented. Perspectives of application of PSI reaction centers in the development of future methods for clinical neural stimulation are also presented.